Jayalalithaa gives damaging comment on Sadiq Batcha death

Chennai, Mar 17: Suddenly the focus is back on DMK and the 2G scam after the mysterious death of key Raja aide Sadiq Batcha yesterday. The murderous political motives of those who wanted him dead is yet to be revealed. But it is Tamil Nadu's Opposition leader, J Jayalalithaa who wants to bring back the focus on the case and wants to make the maximum noise when Tamil Nadu stands at the threshold of elections soon.

The AIADMK chief in a statement issued after the death of Sadiq Batcha hit the headlines said, "The death under mysterious circumstances of Sadiq Batcha, a close associate of Andimuthu Raja, who was the main custodian of the former Union Telecom Minister's ill-gotten gains from the infamous 2-G Spectrum scam, does not come as a surprise to people who know the DMK's style of internal justice. Some years ago, we saw Stalin's close associate and known benami, Anna Nagar Ramesh and his entire family "committing suicide". The buzz at that time was that Ramesh's conscience was pricking him and he was contemplating coming clean. Now, it is the turn of Sadiq Batcha!"

There was considerable speculation on the death bringing about a major challenge for the CBI who are investigating the scam. They are still in the process of ascertaining the magnitude of the scam and the various people who have benefited from it.

Jayalalithaa also said in her statement, "A similar fate could await other key witnesses in the 2-G Scam investigations, particularly if they are from Tamil Nadu. If the CBI and the Supreme Court of India are really keen on unearthing the whole truth behind this colossal scam, it would be better to keep all such witnesses under CBI or judicial custody till the investigations are over. Further, a protective cover has to be provided to Andimuthu Raja, the main accused in the case. Otherwise he could also go the Sadiq Batcha way. After all, the main objective of the DMK is to keep the CBI from getting closer to the Karunanidhi family members in this case."

In what can be termed as the first casualty that saw an estimated cumulative loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore from the country's exchequer, there are strong rumours doing the rounds that Sadiq was a man who knew too much on the scam and many intricate details would be buried with his death. "In order to hide the whole truth behind the Himalayan 2G Spectrum Scam, another unpardonable crime has been committed. Is it a case of murder or forced suicide? This is the issue that has to be ascertained by the CBI. If there is any reluctance on the part of the CBI, then both the Supreme Court and the JPC should step in and issue the necessary directives," the AIADMK leader stressed.